BIBLE PASSAGE:
Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the
right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city.
(Revelation 22:14)
MEDITATION:
Have you ever been going to an event and forgot your pass, or ticket?
You thought you had everything with you, until you arrived at the gate
and they asked to see your ticket. Do you Remember the feeling you
experienced when you realized you were not going to be allowed to
enter the arena or auditorium? If only you had been fully prepared
when you arrived; but you failed in one very important area, and had
to face the consequences.
“wash their robes” is the same as saying “do His commandments”.
Now, imagine standing at the gates of heaven with a feeling that
you have everything in order. However, when we are asked,
“Did you do His commandments?”
how will we respond?
In James, we are given instructions to “do what His Word says”.
Do not merely listen to the word, and
so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
(James 1:22)
When we “do His commandments” it serves as confirmation that we have
given our life to Him. Doing His commandments encompasses many things.
First and foremost, it means yielding to His control of our life. It means
loving others as He has loved us. It includes returning to Him what He
commands (which is at a minimum, ten percent).
Using the gifts and talents He has given us to serve Him is part of “doing
His commandments”. He also has commanded that we meet together, which
means that “doing His commandments”, includes meeting together with other
believers in corporate worship. God doesn’t want to hear our own personal
reasons for ‘not doing’ this commandment, He is interested in whether or not
we obeyed Him.
He also understands that we may have genuine reasons that prevent us from
being ‘on campus’ to worship Him, but when that happens, we can find other
ways to continue or worship and praise.
“doing His commandments” means obeying all His commands, including
the ones that we don’t want to obey (at least initially). When we do what
God has commanded us to do (or not do), then we will be allowed to,
“pass through the gates of the city” and “receive our tree of life”.
ACTION:
Question to consider:
– Am I currently “doing His commandments”, or have I established
my own list of commands that I have chosen to obey and keep my
fingers crossed that I will be allowed to “pass through the gates”
and receive my “tree of life”?
This gate is the one that opens to eternity, and not just to a two to four hour
event. Take some time and read Revelation 21-22 and look at what we could
miss out on when we chose not to “do His commandments”.
Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank you very much for Your promise of “the tree
of life”! Forgive me if I have not been “doing Your commandments”
and teach me to change now so that I can pass through the gates into
the city. Convict me if I have been allowing my selfishness to exclude
obeying some of Your commandments. Help me to overcome the selfish
thoughts that Satan plants in my mind, which can prevent me from doing
what You want, and what You have commanded me to do. Help me to
rejoice and appreciate Your wonderful promises to those who belong
to You, and guide me in doing everything to prepare me for that future.
Help to live so close to You now that when I pass through the gates of
the city, there will be no big changes.”
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